President Donald Trump said early Saturday, January 3, 2026, that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife had been “captured and flown out of the country” following large-scale U.S. military strikes inside Venezuela.
Explosions and low-flying aircraft were reported in Caracas and several other regions as Venezuelan authorities declared a national emergency and urged mobilization.
U.S. officials did not immediately release details about where Maduro was taken or provide official confirmation beyond the president’s announcement.
Trump’s announcement and initial accounts from the ground
Trump posted that Maduro had been detained and removed from Venezuelan territory shortly after reports of blasts near key sites in the capital.
Power outages were recorded in parts of southern Caracas, and images showed smoke rising near military facilities as residents described concussive sounds overnight. Venezuelan officials said multiple areas, including Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira, experienced attacks and disruptions.
As the situation unfolded, the White House did not issue a formal statement on command authority or targets. U.S. defense officials referred questions to the National Security Council.
Air-traffic notices restricted flights over Venezuelan airspace while U.S. diplomatic staff advised American citizens to shelter in place. By midmorning, questions remained about the continuity of governance in Caracas and who was exercising authority in Maduro’s absence.
What is known about the operation
Early reporting cited U.S. military action against select sites in and around the capital and on the northern coast. A U.S. official confirmed that strikes had been conducted, while separate accounts pointed to helicopter and fixed-wing activity visible from several neighborhoods.
According to people briefed on the operation, the mission focused on degrading defenses and enabling a rapid detention of senior figures. CBS News reported that the U.S. Army’s Delta Force participated in the effort to apprehend Maduro, citing U.S. officials.
The Trump administration has for months increased pressure on Maduro’s government. U.S. forces in recent weeks seized oil tankers linked to Venezuela, conducted lethal strikes on boats the administration labeled as drug-smuggling assets, and targeted port infrastructure described as supporting narcotics shipments. The administration has long accused Maduro of working with criminal and terrorist-designated networks. Maduro denies those allegations.
Caracas response and reports of arrests and damage
Venezuela’s government condemned the events as “military aggression,” announced a national emergency and called for mass mobilization. State media urged citizens to remain calm and avoid areas near security installations. Local reports described damaged facilities and scattered clashes. The Defense Ministry vowed to resist any foreign troop presence and said loyal units were redeploying to protect key nodes, including communications, energy and government buildings.
Crowds gathered in some districts to assess damage or film aircraft overhead, while other residents moved to stay with relatives away from potential targets. Hospitals activated emergency protocols and requested additional supplies. Public transportation experienced intermittent suspensions as authorities redirected traffic around cordoned areas. The status of senior civilian and military officials was not immediately clear, and there were no verified casualty figures in the first hours after the strikes.
